Tottenham eye Iliman Ndiaye as £80m swap after Gakpo walk‑away

Tottenham Hotspur have been left without a proven striker after Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo chose Manchester City, prompting Fabrizio Romano to tease a possible £80 million swap for Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye as the North London club seek to end a goal‑dry start.

Spurs’ attacking woes

Roberto De Zerbi’s side have endured a nightmare opening, losing 3‑0 to Brentford and 2‑0 at home to Newcastle United, yet they have not found the net once. The manager’s call for more firepower has fallen on deaf ears, and his post‑defeat comments have not gone down well with supporters.

Gakpo, the 27‑year‑old Liverpool forward, was a top target for Tottenham but opted for Manchester City in a deal that could be worth up to £85 million. He was prized for his ability to operate on the left wing or as a centre‑forward, offering movement and clinical finishing.

Man City chase Cody Gakpo while Liverpool weigh a crucial winger exit

Romano’s swap scenario

Romano has hinted that Iliman Ndiaye could be a possibility if the Gakpo deal falls through, noting that the Everton attacker is one of the Premier League’s most highly‑regarded talents. Although his reported £80 million price tag may seem steep, De Zerbi could use Richarlison as a make‑weight, as Romano suggested the Brazilian could also feature in talks.

Richarlison’s future at Spurs remains uncertain; the Brazilian, who joined Tottenham for £60 million, has expressed a desire to stay in England but a return to Everton has been mooted. A swap involving Richarlison would give the Lilywhites a versatile option while potentially easing the financial outlay.

Spurs sit bottom after £300m spending but De Zerbi stays calm

Everton are also weighing a big‑money sale, having received a £40 million offer from Nottingham Forest for rising star Harrison Armstrong, the 19‑year‑old forward. Fans of the Hill Dickinson side protested the potential move during a 1‑1 draw away to Bournemouth.

Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra By  Matthew Guyett AM GMT+1 is a journalist for GiveMeSport, covering Premier and European football. He graduated from the University of Essex in 2022 with a Creative Writing degree before joining GiveMeSport as a freelancer in August 2024. Matthew began his career with Sportskeeda in 2022, writing for their European football team for nearly three years, amassing over 25 million reads, including a viral story that earned 724,000 reads. Here, GiveMeSport’s market‑madness platform and GIVEMESPORT podcast have become the source of Romano’s tease, offering fans a clear picture of the potential swap deal.